Shrewsbury woman charged with securities fraud and money laundering

Wednesday

The following is from a submission by the U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of New Hampshire.

A Shrewsbury woman was arrested and appeared in federal court Nov. 6 on charges of securities fraud and money laundering.

According to the indictment, announced by U.S. Attorney Scott W. Murray, between December 2015 and November 2017, Jessica M. Teixeira, 41, of Shrewsbury, defrauded two New Hampshire investors by selling them a series of securities that were supposedly guaranteed and would generate high rates of return.

According to the indictment, Teixeira represented herself as a solicitor of high-yield investment funds with connections to investment groups raising funds associated with domestic and foreign real estate developments, who solicited financing through private investors rather than banks.

However, the indictment alleges that Teixeira's claims to be connected to high-level investment groups were false, the investment contracts and notes she sold were worthless and generated no returns and Teixeira would simply convert the invested funds to her own personal use and benefit, without returning any of the invested funds. In total, she allegedly obtained approximately $296,250 from the two investors.

Her trial is scheduled for Dec. 11.

“Even as we work to combat opioid trafficking and violent crime, federal law enforcement officers strive diligently to identify and prosecute those involved in fraud schemes here in New Hampshire,” stated Murray.

“Today’s arrest serves as a reminder that white-collar criminals often lurk behind overly aggressive high rate-of-return promises,” stated Special Agent in Charge Kristina O’Connell, with IRS Criminal Investigation, Boston Field Office. “IRS-CI is proud to bring our financial expertise to these joint investigations to help catch perpetrators and prevent future victims of high-yield investment schemes.”

"This investigation is another example of the FBI’s efforts to protect the integrity and transparency of the financial markets. Working with our law enforcement partners, we will pursue those who are motivated by greed and personal enrichment by defrauding investors, destroying the financial security of hard-working individuals within our communities,” stated Harold H. Shaw, special agent in charge of the FBI Boston Division.

This matter was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigation. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys John Davis and Anna Dronzek.